I am looking to figure out how, if possible, to use the Z-axis control via lightburn and/or Gcode. My end goal is to add Gcode to raise the Zaxis above the work surface once a job is done, but I cant get it it work. I am using the provided Lightburn settings provided here ( Using Ray/Artisan/2.0 with LightBurn | Snapmaker Wiki ). Everything is working perfect, just not Z-axis. However, based on everything im seeing so far, and trying, I cant figure out the right combination of settings and commands to enable Z-axis control. Yes, I turned on “enable Z-axis”, but it doesn’t seem to change anything when I use console commands to test. I was hoping to add something such as “G0 Z10 ; Raise Z-axis 10mm (clear the work-piece)” for the end Gcode in settings. Also, I’d love if the move commands allowed for Z axis control and not just X,Y.
Seems odd I can manually control the Z axis no problem in lightburn when connected using the manual functions, but doesnt work anywhere else.
What am I missing? Thanks for your time! Let me know if I can clarify further for anyone willing to support.
Did you try entering G0 Z10 in the Console window? That will confirm you can send commands to the controller.
If that works, read up on Custom GCode. It is a Device, like GRBL, but gives you a lot of control over what is sent to the laser and when. When selected as a Device, another tab is added to the Device Settings window.
To add a 10mm raise at the end of the program, use the following as an end gcode;
G91
G0 Z10
G90
G91 sets incremental positioning, or basically “Move from this position” instead of absolute from origin. G0 Z10 Tells it to move Z 10mm positive.
Finally G90 sets absolute positioning again.
As far as console et al, it depends on what mode the machine was left in. Using G0 Z10 while in absolute, and already at Z10, will not move at all. Swapping to incremental, as above, followed by the G0 again, would make Z move up by 10.
